GUBIO, Nigeria – The northeastern Nigerian state of Borno, already grappling with the devastating impact of Boko Haram insurgency and soaring food prices, is now facing a new crisis: catastrophic floods. The collapse of a dam in September inundated vast swathes of farmland, leaving millions without sustenance.
The flood-induced displacement has forced many to seek refuge in camps, where they rely on meager handouts. Others, desperate for survival, have resorted to working on local farms, risking their lives in the face of banditry and violence.
Indo Usman, a victim of the floods, recounts the harrowing ordeal of losing her livelihood and shelter. The once-promising attempt to rebuild her life through animal husbandry was washed away, leaving her family destitute.
The nationwide impact of the floods is staggering. The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization estimates that over 1.5 million hectares of cropland have been destroyed, affecting more than nine million people. Climate change, coupled with Nigeria’s inadequate infrastructure and economic woes, has exacerbated the crisis.
The soaring cost of basic food items, exacerbated by currency devaluation and fuel subsidy removal, has pushed millions into poverty. The situation is further compounded by mass kidnappings and farmer-herder conflicts in other regions, disrupting food production and supply chains.
The World Bank estimates that 40% of Nigeria’s population lives below the poverty line, and the number of food-insecure individuals is projected to rise to 33 million by next year.
The World Food Programme (WFP) highlights the urgent need for international aid, as resources are diverted to global crises like those in Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan. The organization is prioritizing the most vulnerable, focusing on the “hungriest of the hungry.”
The Alau dam’s collapse, which claimed hundreds of lives, underscores the government’s failure to address infrastructure concerns despite repeated warnings. Zainab Abubakar, a victim of the flood, lost her home and livelihood, leaving her family reliant on aid.
In rural areas like Banki, farmers like Mariam Hassan have suffered repeated crop failures due to flooding. Desperate for survival, she has been reduced to begging for food for her children.
The convergence of these crises has pushed millions of Nigerians to the brink of starvation.
